noun , adjective , verb
■ noun / ˈkɒmpaʊnd; NAmE ˈkɑːm-/
1.
a thing consisting of two or more separate things combined together
2.
( chemistry ) a substance formed by a chemical reaction of two or more elements in fixed amounts relative to each other :
Common salt is a compound of sodium and chlorine.
—compare element , mixture
3.
( grammar ) a noun, an adjective or a verb made of two or more words or parts of words, written as one or more words, or joined by a hyphen. Travel agent , dark-haired and bathroom are all compounds.
4.
an area surrounded by a fence or wall in which a factory or other group of buildings stands :
a prison compound
■ adjective
/ˈkɒmpaʊnd; NAmE ˈkɑːm-/ [ not before noun ] ( technical ) formed of two or more parts :
a compound adjective, such as fair-skinned
A compound sentence contains two or more clauses.
the compound eye of a wasp
■ verb / kəmˈpaʊnd/ [ vn ]
1.
[ often passive ] to make sth bad become even worse by causing further damage or problems :
The problems were compounded by severe food shortages.
2.
be compounded of / from sth ( formal ) to be formed from sth :
The DNA molecule is compounded from many smaller molecules.
3.
[ often passive ] ( formal or technical ) to mix sth together :
liquid soaps compounded with disinfectant
4.
( finance ) to pay or charge interest on an amount of money that includes any interest already earned or charged
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WORD ORIGIN
noun senses 1 to 3 and verb adjective late Middle English compoune (verb), from Old French compoun- , present tense stem of compondre , from Latin componere put together. The final -d was added in the 16th cent. on the pattern of expound and propound .
noun sense 4 late 17th cent. (referring to such an area in SE Asia): from Portuguese campon or Dutch kampoeng , from Malay kampong enclosure, hamlet.